Sinn Féin - On Your Side

Latest Statements

An Chéad Dáil

Here is the much
celebrated video shown at Sinn Féin's An Chéad Dáil event in the Mansion
House Round Room on January 12, 2019. Sinn Féin former Mayor of Dublin
Mícheál Mac Donncha wrote and presents this historic and inspiring
reflection of the events of 100 years ago.

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Sinn Féin Representative for Dublin South East Councillor Daithí Doolan will
be supporting tomorrow morning's Anti Bin Charges Protest, "to ensure that
all rubbish is collected here in Ringsend."

Cllr. Doolan, speaking in Ringsend today said:

"The City Council Management continues in their attempt to bully us into
submitting to their bin charges. This week, as part of their tactics, they
have implemented a disgraceful policy of non collection of household waste
that do not have pre paid tags attached. This has created a situation where
rubbish is piling up on Dublin's streets.

"Here in Ringsend, we have decided to make a stand and tomorrow, with my
full support, residents will hold a protest at 8am on South Lotts Road. The
protest is being held to ensure that all rubbish will be collected and to
avoid a health and safety crisis in our communities."

In conclusion Cllr. Doolan called on, "City Council Management to abandon
this disgraceful policy of leaving rubbish pile up in an attempt to force
people into paying this double tax. The charges have proven to be unjust and
unworkable." ENDS

The protest will take place tomorrow, Friday 14th, 8am, Shelbourne Dog
Track, South Lotts Road, Ringsend.

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Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald has today called for the European
Union to provide greater political and financial aid for the countries
affected by December's Tsunami in South East Asia. The call came during a
debate on the issue in the European Parliament.

Speaking after the vote Ms McDonald said:

"Like many others, I have been appalled by the scale of the disaster caused
by the earthquake and tsunami which hit Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Southern
India, Thailand, Malaysia, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Burma, Mauritius,
Somalia, Kenya, Seychelles, Réunion island and Tanzania

"The United Nations have already confirmed that 150 000 people have died,
thousands have gone missing, more than 500 000 have been seriously wounded
and five million have been displaced, and that the survival of some 150 000
people is under immediate threat from epidemics and famine.

"In addition the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than
five million people are suffering from inadequate access to drinking water
and a shortage of medical services and health provision. Much of the
communication, energy and educational infrastructure have been destroyed in
these coastal regions.

"I and my colleague Bairbre de Brún would like to convey our party's
condolences and deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the victims,
and to the peoples and governments of the countries concerned. We would also
like to pay tribute to the many forms of solidarity shown across the world.

"The international community, and in particular political leaders in Europe,
must respond in kind and fully honour the commitments made to the victims of
the disaster.

"Today Sinn Fein supported a resolution calling on the European Commission
and the Member States to take all the necessary measures to write off the
developing countries' bilateral and multilateral external debts rapidly.

"We also welcome the decision taken by the European Commission to release
€23 m in emergency aid and its intention to grant an additional contribution
of €100 m from the Community budget's emergency reserve fund. It is
important that donors establish among themselves, and with the United
Nations and beneficiary countries clear deadlines for the supply of
humanitarian aid.

"This disaster once again highlights the need for all developed countries,
including the Irish government, to bring the level of development aid up to
at least 0.7% of GDP, as requested by the United Nations. There can be no
backsliding on this important demand.

"Sinn Féin also believes that an international tax on capital movements
should be introduced, the proceeds of which should be allocated to the
building of a fairer world." ENDS

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Gerry Adams has given notice to Sinn Féin that the party must prepare to
resist any campaign of discrimination by the two governments against its
electorate. Speaking to An Phoblact the Sinn Féin President said:

"The process was in considerable difficulties following the DUP rejection of
the comprehensive agreement in December. At that time there was an
unprecedented opportunity to resolve all of the outstanding issues and see
the Good Friday Agreement implemented. This foundered on an unachievable
demand from Ian Paisley supported by the two governments. Despite this Sinn
Féin continued to search for a way forward with the governments.

"Then the Northern Bank robbery was seized upon by opponents of the process
on the one hand and by opponents of Sinn Féin on the other to prevent any
further progress.

"The British government now appears to be considering a return to the failed
policy of discrimination against Sinn Féin, and the Irish government for its
own reasons appears to be in support of this.

"I have spoken to senior officials in both governments and made this very
clear to them.

"Despite all of our reservations and concerns as republicans Sinn Féin has
been prepared to work with the British government in the common interest of
building a lasting peace. That remains our focus and intention. However we
will not acquiesce to the undermining of the rights and entitlements of our
electorate.

"We are also seriously concerned about the Taoiseach's decision to attack
Sinn Féin. His allegation that our leadership was aware in advance of the
Northern Bank robbery creates difficulties in the working relationship between
the Irish government and Sinn Féin.

"I reject these accusations totally and I am disappointed that the Taoiseach
didn't raise any concerns he might have with me directly.

"It is important that we all avoid knee-jerk reactions. The Sinn Féin
leadership is currently assessing all of this, the implications of any
attack on our mandate and our future role in the process.

"Unless wiser counsel prevails short-sighted decisions by the governments
could have profound implications.

"In this context we are seeking meetings with the British and Irish
governments next week." ENDS

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Sinn Féin Spokesperson on International Affairs Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has
welcomed Minister Dermot Ahern's announcement that the Government will
increase its tsunami humanitarian aid commitment to €20 million, but is
urging him to match the Irish people's out-of-pocket donations, running at
€40 million to date, which he characterised as "a source of national pride".

Deputy Ó Snodaigh said:

"The Irish people's generosity and spirit of solidarity is a source of
national pride. Sinn Féin activists across the island have been organising
or participating in tsunami relief fundraising efforts in their local areas,
and I commend them also.

"While I welcome the Minister‚s announcement that the Government will double
its tsunami relief commitment to €20 million, I would like to see the
Government pledge to at least match what the Irish people themselves raise.
After all, this is the second wealthiest state in the EU and the fourth
wealthiest state in the world.

"As the UN has stipulated, the Government's commitment must be additional,
paid in cash and quickly. Now that the Minister has returned from his
fact-finding and consultations in the region and his meetings with the UN
and EU partners, I call on him to publicly clarify how and when this will be
done.

"We mourn for the 150,000 who lost their lives and extend condolence to
their families. The 5 million survivors in the 12 affected countries who
now lack the basics of life such as food, water and shelter must receive
relief on the basis of need without discrimination. Equally, aid must not
be used as a tool of counterinsurgency against affected populations in
conflict zones. To this end, Sinn Féin welcomes the UN's formal
coordinating role in relief operations.

"Sinn Féin supports the contribution of Irish military assets for
humanitarian relief in response to UN requests, and their deployment under
the leadership of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator in cooperation with
the tsunami affected Governments."

Deputy Ó Snodaigh added:

"Emergency disaster relief and freezing the $272 billion in debt owed by
these countries are not enough. Ireland must ensure that the reconstruction
provides for the long-term development needs of the affected regions, and
includes participation by the local communities affected in formulating
their future. The Indian Ocean disaster has highlighted the urgency of the
related issues of debt cancellation and the need for fair trade rules, as
well as meeting the UN Official Development Assistance target of 0.7% GNP by
2007, and I endorse the priorities for post-tsunami action identified by
Oxfam. I urge the Government to provide global leadership on these issues,
starting with an announcement that it has resumed its commitment to meeting
the UN ODA target by increasing the ODA spend for 2005 to 0.5%." ENDS

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North Antrim Sinn Féin MLA, Philip McGuigan, has lambasted the PSNI in
Ballymena for what he describes as a pattern of politically motivated
policing in the town.

Mr McGuigan said:

"Over a period of 6-8 months it is obvious to observers that the PSNI in
Ballymena is more than content to continue with the anti-republican policies
of the past. Their very public harassment of individuals, and of certain
neighbourhoods is very clearly an attempt to demonise the Nationalist
community in the town.

"This has included raids on people's property, the inappropriate use of CS
spray, blanket policing of certain communities, and regular attempts to
recruit informers. This is driven by senior police officers and it is
obviously a policy against local nationalists.

"If people compare this type of policing to their lack of response to
loyalist pipe bombs being laid at the door of the nationalist community last
summer, they can clearly see the political agenda at play.

Mr. McGuigan continued:

"Sinn Féin has been in contact with the Irish representative of the
British/Irish Intergovernmental Conference and have given an update on the
local policing situation. They have a clear responsibility to stand up for
the rights of Irish citizens in the north and we will be pushing for them to
fulfil this role. I have also invited them to Ballymena to talk to those
affected by this policy of partisan policing and give them an insight into
how badly the police are acting on the ground." ENDS

Mr McGuigan has also been in contact with the Police Ombudsman's office to
raise his concerns.

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Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD
has described the A&E crisis as highlighted by the Irish Nurses Organisation
as both predictable and preventable. He said the failure of the Government
to implement its own Health Strategy meant that this was now an annual event
and he called on the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to
deliver on her promises.

Speaking today he said:

"The winter A&E crisis is now an annual event. It is as utterly
predictable at Christmas but totally preventable. Many of the remedies are
in the Government's own Health Strategy which it has failed to implement.
These include:

More acute beds in our hospitals as promised

The recruitment of the additional nurses required

The roll-out of promised Primary Care centres to help take the pressure
off our hospitals

The conclusion of the negotiations with hospital consultants for a new
contract and exclusive working by new consultants in the public system

Restoration of A&E services in local hospitals where they have been cut.

"It is scandalous that once again the number of people on trolleys and
chairs in A&E units has reached an all-time high in the month of
January. Minister Harney's 'new broom' has not swept clean and is clearly
threadbare." ENDS

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Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin TD has called on the
Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney to issue a full
statement setting out her reasons for terminating the suspensions of two
consultant surgeons at Cavan General Hospital.

Speaking today he said:

"This was very unusual in that it was a personal intervention by the
Minister in a matter which she and her colleagues would normally deem the
responsibility of the Health Boards, now the Health Services Executive. The
Minister may have very good reasons for this action but we need to know what
they are. I will reserve judgement on the Minister's action awaiting her
clarficiation.

"I have called on this Minister and her predecessor to intervene directly
in the North Eastern Health Board region in major public health policy
matters such as the removal of key services from our hospitals and they have
refused, claiming it was outside their remit. These claims are certainly
belied when the Minister can intervene directly in a personnel matter such
as this." ENDS

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Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún has this afternoon expressed great concern
at the results of a report on greenhouse gas emissions in the 6 Counties and
said that "a real commitment was required by governments, business and
a change to our collective lifestyles".

Ms de Brún was responding to a report which found that carbon dioxide
emissions in the 6 Counties were 1.9% higher than in 2002. The British
National Environmental Technology Centre carried out the research for the
Westminster Department of the Environment. The report comes in the week when
both Ms de Brún and her colleague Ms Mary Lou McDonald voted in favour
of a resolution on climate change in the European Parliament.

Speaking from Strasbourg Ms de Brún said:

"The results of the report into greenhouse gas emissions in the 6 counties
are of great concern. In comparison with an 18% decrease in emissions in
England, a 5.9% decrease in Wales and 3.2% in Scotland, statistics for the 6
Counties are actually 1.9% higher than in 2002.

"The report has been critical of an over-reliance on the use of private
vehicles. What is required is an adequate public transport system. Only then
will we begin to address our reliance on private vehicles. One clear
indication of the lack of commitment to public transport is the talk of
axing the Belfast to Derry rail link.

"Investment in public transport will save money in the longer term, as
those countries who fail to meet their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol
will be required to pay substantial fines.

"It is imperative that governments and big business show strong leadership
and make difficult choices concerning our environment. The issue of global
warming remains one of the most important issues facing humanity at present
and it requires a global response. It also requires a local response,
particularly in light of this most recent report.

"Sinn Féin believes that this response is best achieved through an
all-Ireland strategy. Setting more ambitious targets to cap the
concentration of greenhouse gases requires a real commitment and will
require major changes to the manufacturing process; to the way that energy
is generated, as oil and natural gas supplies dwindle, and to our collective
lifestyles." ENDS

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Sinn Féin South Belfast MLA Alex Maskey has called for a wide-ranging
investigation of the circumstances surrounding the case of a Ukrainian
migrant worker who had both legs amputated after being forced to sleep on
the streets.

Mr Maskey said:

"I think there needs to be a thorough and wide ranging investigation into
how a healthy young migrant worker could find herself out of a job, out of a
home and on the streets and subsequently so ill that both her legs had to be
amputated.

"Not only has this woman fallen through the safety net there must also be
serious questions asked about the operation and protection afforded through
the work permit scheme and in particularly how employers are safeguarding
the rights of workers employed through this scheme.

"Clearly we need to ask questions of the Department of Employment and
Learning that operates the work permit scheme and also about what services
are in place to support migrant workers who find themselves thrown out of
their employment." ENDS

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Sinn Féin MP for Mid-Ulster Martin McGuinness has expressed his deepest
condolences to the family of Cookstown man Conor Keightley and also thanked
the Department of Foreign Affairs for the support and comfort it provided to
the Keightley family throughout their ordeal.

Mr McGuinness said:

"The confirmation that Conor's body has been identified has now confirmed
the worst fears of the Keightley family and my heartfelt sympathy and
condolences goes out to them. People everywhere prayed and hoped that Conor
would be found alive but sadly this is not to be the case. I would like to
pay a special thanks to everyone at the Department of Foreign Affairs in
Dublin and the Irish Ambassador to the Region, Dan Mulhall for the
compassionate manner in which they gave every assistance and comfort
possible to the Keightley family throughout their terrible ordeal.

I have no doubt that the wider community and particularly the good people of
Cookstown will continue to support and comfort the family in the difficult
time ahead." ENDS

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Sinn Féin Dublin City Councillor Daithi Doolan has called on City Management
to ensure that all household rubbish in the Dublin City Council area is
collected as a matter of urgency. The Sinn Féin councillor's call comes in
the wake of the first week of the Council's new "pay-by-use refuse"
collection scheme which has seen bags of uncollected rubbish piling up on a
number of Dublin streets.

The City council this week implemented a policy of non-collection of
household waste in rubbish bags that do not have prepaid tags attached.
However many householders across Dublin have been unable to buy the prepaid
tags anywhere in their local area and hundreds of people entitled to waivers
under the scheme have not received their free tags.

Daithi Doolan said:

"The situation we see today with rubbish piling up on Dublin streets amounts
to a potentially dangerous health and safety problem and it is being
directly caused by the policy of the City Council. In this context I note
that High Court Judge Lyndsey ruled before Christmas that Dublin City
Council had illegally imposed bin charges in the 2001 to 2002 period against
the City Counil's own criteria. This is the backdrop of City Mangement's
reckless pursuit of imposing a deeply unpopular and unworkable system.

"Under the new system both those people who have on principle refused to pay
bin charges and those who have attempted to pay the charges and abide by the
system are being penalized. The number and spread of outlets handling the
prepaid tags is woefully inadequate. People in many areas have been unable
to buy the tags locally and their rubbish has been left to rot outside their
houses. This is further proof that this system of waste management is unjust
and unworkable. I am calling on City management to ensure the collection of
all household rubbish regardless of tags. I ask that they do this at the
earliest possible opportunity so that we can avoid the inevitable health and
safety problems which will ensue otherwise." ENDS

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Sinn Féin South Belfast Assembly member Alex Maskey has expressed anger at
the case of two republican ex-prisoners who have been denied employment with
the Simon Community and called for greater action to combat the
discrimination faced by political ex-prisoners not just in employment but
also across a range of areas.

Mr Maskey said:

"Discrimination on the grounds of being a republican ex-prisoner is totally
unjustified.

"The role played by many political prisoners, particularly within the
community sector should not be under valued.

"Ex-prisoners have been at the vanguard in developing alternatives to
punishment attacks and the basis on which John McConkey and Jervis Marks
have been denied employment with the Simon Community is both unfounded and
insulting.

"Central to any process of conflict resolution must be support for the
combatants within the conflict. The commitment to support the ex-prisoner
community is explicit with the Good Friday Agreement. There needs to be
greater action to combat the discrimination faced by political ex-prisoners
not just in employment but also across a range of areas." ENDS

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Sinn Féin South Down MLA Caitríona Ruane has been selected as Sinn Féin
South Down candidate for the for the coming Westminster election. At the
party's Westminster selection convention in Downpatrick Caitríona Ruane was
selected unopposed to stand as Sinn Féin's candidate in the Westminster
election.

Speaking at the convention Cllr Willie Clarke MLA congratulated Caitriona on
her nomination believing it marks another historic landmark for Sinn Féin
in County Down. Cllr Clarke said:

"We have put forward a candidate who I believe will give us a genuine
opportunity to win this seat. South Down is clearly a key area of growth for
Sinn Féin and we are fighting an election in what was once considered
an SDLP stronghold. This is no longer the case and we are steadily building
upon the foundation laid by people like Cllr Mick Murphy and Cllr Frank
McDowell who have helped paved the way for our current success. Make no
mistake, with hard work and dedication this seat is within our grasp ˇ a
seat that until quite recently would have been considered untouchable.

Ms Ruane said:

"It is a privilege and with a sense of humility that I accept this
nomination. This is a county with a proud Republican tradition dating back
to the 1798 rebellion when men and women fought and died for Irish freedom.
It is a history that links County Down with my home county of Mayo where the
vision and beliefs of Wolfe Tone have influenced successive generations.

"Here in South Down we have achieved a number of significant breakthroughs
with the election last November of myself and my party colleague Willie
Clarke to the Assembly. We have put together a committed team of Council
candidates in the hope of at least doubling are representation on Down
District and Newry and Mourne Councils and we are also attempting to make an
unprecedented electoral breakthrough in Banbridge. Our candidates are a
blend of youth and experience with a gender balance which shows Sinn Fein is
the one political party in Ireland trying to actively increase the
representation of women in politics.

"My work as an MLA has taken me to many towns, villages and country hamlets
where I have met students and first-time voters; pensioners terrified in
their own homes; workers and the unemployed; small shopkeepers; farmers
worried about the implications of a national park; people working in the
fishing industry who are unsure about their future in the face of more EU
reforms and restrictions and business people anxious to develop South Down,
particularly the areas tourist potential.

"South Down has many social and economic problems. Not surprisingly, like
anywhere else in the North, there are political divisions and competing
aspirations but none that cannot be mutually accommodated within the Good
Friday Agreement. Sinn Féin has fought long and hard to reverse the
injustices of partition. We were able to do so because the electorate has
empowered us to do so. It is only now that the British and the unionists
have started to take our community seriously.

"The events of the past three months prove the DUP have still some way to go
before they are prepared to share power with Republicans. Yet massive
progress has been made and Ian Paisley now leads a party that has accepted
the fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement and its all-Ireland
architecture.

"For the past 17 years Eddie McGrady has held this seat in what has often
been described as the SDLP's 'jewel in the crown'. That jewel has lost much
of its sparkle and with the continued dedication, hard work and commitment
we can, in the centenary year of Sinn Féin's formation, win next year's
Westminster election and significantly increase our representation at
Council level.

Notes for editors

Caitriona was born and raised in Mayo and lives in County Louth. She is
married to Brian and has two daughters. A keen athlete, she played
professional tennis from she was 17-21, was in the Junior Competition at
Wimbledon and represented Ireland at many international events. She has
played a wide range of sports including basketball, volleyball table tennis
and GAA.

A fluent Spanish speaker, she worked for a US-based aid foundation from
1983-87 in Central America, living in dangerous war zones with indigenous
people, documenting human rights abuses. Upon her return to Ireland she
worked full-time for Trocaire before co-founding the Centre for Research and
Documentation.

She was a member of the Committee on the Administration of Justice and
organised the Belfast Forum on Policing conference in 1994 after the
ceasefires. She has lobbied the UN and the EU on human rights in the North
and was involved in organising inquiries and compiling reports into the
deaths of Fergal Caraher (shot dead by a British soldier) and Patrick
Shanaghan (a victim of collusion between loyalists and state forces).

From 1997-2001 Caitríona was the Director of Féile an Phobail and a founder
of the St Patrick's Day Parade, during which time she took unionists in the
city hall to court on grounds of funding discrimination. In 2000 President
Mary McAleese presented Caitríona with the Aisling Person of the Year Award.

More recently, Caitríona has been chairperson of the 'Bring Them Home'
campaign.

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Sinn Féin Assembly member for South Down Caitriona Ruane has said that the
remarks of SDLP MP Eddie McGrady yesterday in the British House of Commons
accusing Sinn Féin of being the 'IRA in lounge suits' were remarks more at
home on the DUP benches.

Ms Ruane said:

" Eddie McGrady's contribution yesterday in the British House of Commons
including his disgraceful use of language in describing the party who
represent the majority of nationalist opinion the six counties would have
been more at home on the DUP benches.

" It is clear to those of us vigorously pursuing the United Ireland agenda
that Mr McGrady has long departed from that path and instead is heading down
the political cul de sac mapped out by former SDLP colleagues like Gerry
Fitt.

" It is clear that Eddie McGrady has extreme difficulties in accepting the
Sinn Féin mandate. Sinn Féin represent the majority of nationalists in the
north and are the third largest party on this island. Just as we will defend
the rights and entitlements of the nationalist and republican community in
the face of attacks from rejectionist unionism and the British government we
will do so in the face of attacks from Eddie McGrady.

" Sinn Féin are involved in this process on the basis of our mandate. The
majority of nationalists in the north ensured that. Eddie McGrady needs to
realise that those voters are not second class and that a vote for Sinn Féin
caries the same weight as a vote for anyone else." ENDS

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Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness MP will be available to speak
to the media today (Wednesday 12th January) at 12.30pm at the party offices
on Sevastopol Street on the current state of the political process.

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Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald has this morning called upon
the Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union to "make a real difference
to the lives of ordinary citizens".

Ms McDonald made her comments before the Prime Minister of Luxembourg
Jean-Claude Juncker was due to set out the political programme of its
Presidency later this morning in the European Parliament, Strasbourg.
Luxembourg will hold the EU Presidency for 6 months.

Speaking today Ms McDonald said:

"Sinn Féin is calling upon the Luxembourg Presidency to seize the
opportunity to press for a progressive social justice agenda in the next six
months, and to promote positive initiatives on socio-economic, political and
human rights.

"During the Irish Presidency in 2004, an opportunity existed for the Irish
Government to prioritise a Europe which protected its most vulnerable
citizens, and in our view it failed. For too long, the EU has been obsessed
with appeasing the agenda of big business and the larger, militarily
superior states. Sinn Féin believes that a change of direction is
required.

"In March 2005, the Luxembourg Presidency will conduct a mid-term review
of the "Lisbon process" around its core priorities - economic, social and
environmental. Sinn Féin has consistently argued that the social aspects
of the agenda have been set aside in favour of exclusively promoting
competitiveness and economic growth to the detriment of workers' rights.
This must be the occasion to rebalance the Lisbon Strategy, placing greater
emphasis on its social and environmental aspects. It is a scathing
indictment of the Lisbon Agenda and the EU when more than 68 million people
face poverty and social exclusion within its borders.

"Sinn Féin believes that the Luxembourg Presidency should promote a
visible social inclusion strategy and prioritise initiatives which seek to
promote social protections, including workers‚ rights. It should also
reverse the trend toward increasing privatisation and move to secure the
future of quality public services, particularly in relation to health and
education services.

"Our party is happy to endorse the Social Platform Tests for the
Luxembourg Presidency.

"I would also call upon the Luxembourg Presidency not to become a
cheerleader for the EU Constitution in 2005. A number of referendums are due
to held later in the year. They should remain impartial and allow the
citizens to decide for themselves whether or not to ratify the EU
Constitution.

"Along with my colleague Bairbre de Brún MEP, I look forward to working
the Luxembourg Presidency in the coming months." ENDS

Note to editors: The Social Platform tests for the Luxembourg presidency is
produced by a pan European platform of social NGOs. The tests can be found
at www.socialplatform.org.

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Speaking today in response to the Department for Regional Development's
Draft Accessible Transport Strategy, Sinn Fein Regional Development
spokesperson, Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney expressed his concern that the
development of an accessible transport strategy for older people and people
with disabilities has been long overdue and reiterated the need for an All
Ireland Accessible Transport Strategy.

Mr McCartney said:

"This transport initiative comes almost ten years after the introduction of
the Disability Discrimination Act. Sinn Fein continues to work tirelessly to
promote the equality and human rights agenda and to defend the rights and
entitlements of all our citizens. I am amazed that transport legislation in
the Six Counties, even with the advent of DDA, is non-existent. To think
that the elderly and people with disabilities are protected under the law in
this regard is huge human rights issue.

"The British Government are only now at this late stage introducing draft
legislation to lift this transport exemption. The EU have set the precedence
in its Transport Policy, which places users at the heart of transport policy
and promotes the increased of forms of public transport accessible to all,
including people with disabilities and older people. With statistics
predicting by 2025, 26% of the population in the Six Counties will be aged
60+, and almost 1 in 4 people with a disability, the Department needs to
deliver the transport services to those who need it most. The strategy must
meet the needs of those in rural and urban centres, cover the entire journey
time and be flexible and responsive to individual needs.

"While DRD state in their vision to have an accessible transport system that
enables older people and people with disabilities to, "participate more
fully in society, enjoy greater independence and experience a better quality
of life". We have to ask what provisions have been made for the elderly
during the last decade and specifically what about the learning disabled,
wheelchair users, visually impaired and those who have hidden disabilities?
Yet with so-called equality legislation, we are still seeing the most
vulnerable and marginalised groups in our society further alienated."

Mr.McCartney has called on the Department to look carefully at the funding
implications for the draft strategy. Finance Minister Ian Pearson has
drastically cut the Budget Priorities for 2005 - 2008.

"In October of this year we saw the DRD budget like so many other
Departments suffering at the hands of British Direct Rule Minister, Ian
Pearson. The upgrading of the transport infrastructure to deliver an
accessible transport network must include all forms of travel, road, rail,
air and sea. Training for staff will be absolutely key in all of this. The
question how the Minister believes that an accessible transport policy can
be delivered by reducing the DRD budget by £41.9m on Objective A Investment
in Transport, over the period 2005- 2005?

"This is not acceptable. For too long now the elderly and disabled have been
victims." ENDS

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Sinn Féin will hold a major rally in the Round Room in the Mansion House in
Dublin on Friday 14th January at 7pm to launch its programme of events for
the 100th anniversary of Sinn Féin.

The event will be chaired by Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald and Sinn Féin MLA
and Chair of Comóradh an Chéid Caitríona Ruane will announce details of
many of the events which will take place over the year.

During the evening there will also be music and a multi media and dramatic
presentation depicting key events of the last 100 years.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP will also give a keynote address setting
out the party's priorities for the time ahead and the current difficulties
in the peace process. ENDS

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Sinn Féin Health spokesperson, Upper Bann MLA John O Dowd speaking about the
need for effective measures emanating from the World Health Organisations
(WHO) European conference on Mental Health in Helsinki said:

"Mental health treatment needs to be properly resourced and the basic human
rights of people with mental health problems need to be protected. Sinn Féin
notes and supports Amnesty International call for 'inextricable links between
respect for international human rights standards and national mental health
systems be reflected in the action plan coming from the WHO Helsinki
conference'.

"Governments and society must recognise the value of the individual with
mental health problems. Sinn Féin believes that services for people with a
mental health illness should be geared towards the needs and wishes of the
individual, rather than the individual having to conform to the norms of the
service or being locked into a prejudiced stereotypical image of people with
mental health problems.

"For the WHO conference action plan to be effective on the ground it must
tackle the widespread problem of the lack of a rights base for the services
received (and in many cases, sought but not received) by mental health
illness suffers and an even less certain provision of services for family
carers.

"This should be based on the development of a range of effective policies
and programmes directed towards increasing inclusion, in developing the
abilities of people with Mental illness themselves, in meeting the
aspirations of and acknowledging the determination of their family carers
and other advocates and in the provision dedicated staff at all levels.

"In the North Mental health services have had too low a priority within
Government planning and have depended on determined individuals for the
service to survive. In the Investing for Health Strategy developed by the
former Health Minister, Bairbre De Brún, the need for cross-departmental
collaboration and co-operation was seen as vital, but true agency
collaboration still remains a long way off. Collaboration is a commitment to
meet together and to plan and work jointly. At its most developed,
collaboration must include families and carers and people with Mental
illness themselves all sharing and actively participating in the necessary
decision-making process.

"It is also unrealistic to believe that a Mental health strategy, bringing
real improvements in the range and quality of opportunities available to
people, can be delivered without extra resources, a point which Dr David
Bamford, the chair of the present Review of Mental Health and Learning
Disability, made very forcibly and public through his open letter to the NIO
minister of Finance, Ian Pearson.

"The WHO conference calls on Government delegates to follow on from the
conference with meaningful change to lives of people with mental health
illness, the Bamford Review is ongoing but as I have said earlier if its
recommendations are not properly resourced then the British government will
have failed the WHO and most importantly of all will have failed those
people with a mental health illness. ENDS